Last Few Weeks of Summer

 It seems like we have had such a short summer.  It barely got warm in time for the girls to enjoy the pool, but I have been loving every minute of this warmer weather.  We're cool inside even without air conditioning or a fan.

Noreen was going for a walk this morning and said she would look for me outside on her way back, so I hurried to get dressed and grab a cup of coffee.  It was a little chilly there in the shade, but not too bad once I was there a few minutes.  It was good to get caught up again on our lives, since she has been out of town for a few days and then celebrating a grandson's birthday - who is now a teenager.  We have a few more months to go before we have one.

Speaking of which, that 12-year-old has been at Camp Seymour since last Monday and is finally coming home today.  We've all missed her, but Katherine has been extra lonely.  I think the first day was good with all the attention and only-child privileges, but by yesterday afternoon, her good mood was wearing thin.  

She did get some pool time in though, first with Carly and then alone yesterday with just me watching her from my poolside chair.  Elise loves going in with her and playing, but she doesn't have the desire to stay in for hours like the younger ones do.  

The pool is beautiful this year.  Maybe it always is, but I don't remember going much last year.

Kate would just stay in there all day if she could.

The whole area looks nice with the new furniture and the clear water.  It's always spotless when we've gone.

Elise called me from the car to look at the sunset the other night.  

The girls and I walked to the library one day last week, and it's easier than it used to be for me.  I still took advantage of this little corner near the magazine section where I could sit down while they looked for books.  

The downtown flower baskets are beautiful this year, as usual.  I wonder how they keep them so lush and green.

I don't have pictures, but Elise has gone to the Community Center outdoor concerts the last two Thursdays and really liked them.  On her walk last night, she noticed a group of martial arts students practicing on the grassy area near the park.  She thought the outfits looked familiar and as she walked by, she saw Katherine out there doing her thing.  Elise said she looked like she was doing some teaching herself but noticed Aunt CeCe walking by and gave her a little wave. 

It's quite a busy place with the new splash park and the existing skate park and Community Park up the hill.  We've been watching the progress of the splash pad for months, although the girls think they're a little bit too old to be going there.

It has to be wonderful for the young families to spread out blankets and take a picnic or snacks while they watch the kids play.  It has a Big Foot theme, which makes them roll their eyes, but they do have neat waterfalls and water dumps for them to run under.

I enjoyed it too.  We just decided all of a sudden to go one hot afternoon.  My folding chair stays in the back of the car, so that was simple to set up.  There was plenty of parking, and Graysen carried it for me and set it up.  I found a place on a rise where I could see the whole park well, and a little breeze added to the pleasure of being outside on such a nice day.  In spite of feeling like the oldest ones, they had a ball and played for well over an hour.  

Right across the parking lot from that is the YMCA where we play mahjong when we can get the correct number of people together.  Yesterday was one of those days, and it was a fun, low-key afternoon, although I felt either unlucky or brain-dead - maybe both - because I was awful.  I had no jokers to help me out and none of the combinations grabbed me, so I was just struggling to remember what I wanted to do with my tiles and what the others were trying to do.  I've enjoyed making some new friends, and I hope we'll get to play once a week now that school is starting soon.  

The family will be going to South Dakota Tuesday for a long overdue visit with Ryan's parents and siblings.  There's a very cute little 2-year-old cousin that the girls can't wait to meet.  Elise and I will try to keep the cats fed and happy and water the plants in the yard and in the garden.  

The next week, they're going to visit friends who have a cabin in Idaho at Priest Lake.  That should also be a fun time, although a good bit of driving is involved.

I'm not thrilled over any books I've chosen this month.  I'll check them out, listen to a chapter or two and then send them back.  

The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah is what I'm listening to at the moment, but it's so depressing I can take only small doses of it.  The fate of the French in World War II as well as the Jewish people in Germany remind me of how close our country is of losing our freedom.  What a horrible, horrible time for so many people, and it takes all I can do to not be pessimistic about the children's futures. Already media is being silenced if they don't agree to the dictator in the White House, and the corruption is just running rampant among the administration's choices for leaders.  

So I'm just trying to enjoy the beauty all around me as well as the company of good friends and family.  I'm thankful every day I'm where I am right now.  I'm not thankful for more than usual cougar sightings have been reported and not far from here.  Bears are seen sometimes too, but they usually don't care to hang around where people are.  It's the cats that scare me. 

Emily has received confirmation of her new position, but I'm not sure what her title is now.  I know she's relieved to have that part over with and to get on with her new responsibilities.  So proud of her.  

While I have cat and plant duties next week, I'll try to get some pictures of their flowers and vegetables and of the almost-whole-house remodeling that's gone on for years.  Lots of pretty things!